Cats & Mirtazapine (Page 6)
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Our 13 year old Maine Coon mix is in the last stages of renal failure. We didn't know anything was wrong until about a month ago when she stopped eating. It's been up and down ever since her diagnosis. Our vet prescribed Mirtazapine but, after reading the many negative comments, we put off giving it to her as long as we could. We finally had to because the effects of not eating in cats are liver shutdown and death. She's had no serious adverse reaction to Mirtazapine, and it has definitely helped her appetite. It is buying her a little more quality time with us.

I certainly wouldn't use or give this drug lightly, but as some posters have noted, in the end it's a risk v.s benefit judgment call.

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Has anyone used mirtazapine long term, like for 5 years or so?

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My 7 year old Kitty has CRF. She is a picky eater so I got mirzatapine as an appetite stimulatent. The vet prescribed 1/2 of a 15 Mg tablet. She started crying, trembling, her eyes showed the 3rd eyelid and in general acted strange. After a couple of hours she vomited what looked like the entire contents if her stomach.

My question is: do you think she was given too large of a dose? She only weighs about 6 1/2 lbs.

Also, I noticed most of the posts indicate a dose of 1/4 or 1/8 tablet. How do you split such a small tablet into 1/4 or 1/8?

Thanks for any help!

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Mirtazapine is also called Remeron, Avanza and Zispin. It might go by that name instead in Spain.

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I live in Spain and have a 14 year old Maine coon who is not eating unless I give him food on my fingers and before that I was force feeding him with a syringe. I am interested in mirtazapine and wonder if I can get it here.

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Sarah, thank you so much for responding so quickly. I have asked my vet for an alternative, but he just suggested halving the original dose, which I did, but she's still so miserable on it. Think I'll just ask again and be annoying! Glad Tequila is doing well - and at such a grand age: 90 human years! At 70 my Victoria is just a, well, a kitten! Thanks again. Jay

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@ JAY - My Tequila will be 18 in May, so in her case I think the Mirtazapine is going to be for the rest of her life. Originally she was getting a 3 mg capsule every 3 days. I extended it to every 4 days, and could probably even do it every 5. She gained a pound in the 6 weeks following her starting the medication - and maintained her weight. I'm pretty happy with it. She may be a lucky cat because her symptoms (talking and waking up a lot) only last about 12 hours. If your kitty (who at 13 is still a youngster :) ) is not doing well or you think she's not happy talk to the vet about alternatives. I think you posted that she had been bullied and that can cause terrible anxiety which just reeks havoc on the body. There are many alternatives. Good luck! I hope you find something that works for your kitty.

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In October I left a post asking how for how long Mirtazapine should be given, but haven't really read a clear response. Maybe it's me. My cat is now on a half-dose (1.75) as she began staggering a lot on the higher dose and the vet halfed it. But she is still manic on day one, stoned out of her mind on day two and miserable on day three. She does eat well for days one and two, and is drinking a lot of water, which is good for her kidneys, I know. But she hates being so stoned, and now I'm wondering about this quality of life -v- prescription drugs thing. She doesn't play anymore, doesn't do much other than eat, drink and sleep, and she seems so terribly sad. How long should I give the Mirtazapine? Is this making her life worse or better? I so want her to be happy again, which she patently isn't...

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I have just started my cat on Mirtazapine as his appetite has gone way down since he has been on Thyroid medication. He has also started a new diet for GI problems. I was wondering what side effects to watch for on the Mirtazapine...thanks

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My (fixed) 13 year old PAWS cat has been terrorized by a large neighborhood unfixed male, and began vomiting food (wet and dry) as soon as she'd eaten. The vet said it was accumulated stress (the bullying has been going on for months, we've tried everything to catch this very smart cat, to no avail) and put her on Mirtazapine. For the first time in ages she actually asked for some food, then ate it, cleaned herself and promptly went to sleep. I'm hoping that with Calm dry food and plenty of Feliway the stress will recede and she'll get back to normal. Any suggestions for getting rid of the bully would be gratefully received, also any comments on using Mirtazapine for what length of time - the 'script says every 72 hours. But every 72 hours for what period of time? The written-about side effects sound horrendous, and she has enough trouble without getting sick from the side effects.

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My Tequila 17 1/2, began to experience weight loss and a complete lack of interest in eating. I tried ever delicious flavor of food, baked her turkey legs, used the water from tuna cans to add some interest. Fur was dull, and she was hiding in dark cubby holes. Turns out she has chronic pancreatitis and a cyst or abscess on her pancreas (she also had chronic kidney failure but it is well monitored and under control). Aside from the medications for the pancreatitis (metrodinazole) sh was started on 3mg capsul of Mirtazapine every 3 days. I was initially concerned by the "talking", and her ears feel quite warm to me, it lasts about 12 hours and she seems to settle. In the 2 weeks since she started taking it I've noticed a huge change. Glossy and soft fur again, increased activity (cat nip mice are no longer safe) and she feels very solid when I pick her up, instead of frail. I do know that she is 17 1/2 and I'm very lucky to have her, at this rate I'm hoping she'll be hassling me til she's 20! I appreciate reading others' experiences with the medication.

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for tazzi's owners, for the kidneys, go to herbalhealer and order asparagus extract, it is a kidney detox and works well, also astros crf oil out of canada for kidney disease, natural meds. i have cured a few cats on this, but the kidneys were not in renal failure, it is worth a try and not contidictive to any allopathic meds. jacque

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What's a GMO?

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My 7lb. indoor cat was bitten by my other indoor cat. An abscess formed. The Vet prescribed amoxicillin 50ms twice daily/ 14 days. on 6th day, she started ith massive diarrhea. I had to take her to emergency specialist. She had lost all the normal bacteria from her bowel due to overdose of antibiotics.
The specialist Vet dozed her with Mirtazapine half tab of a 7.5 mg pill used for appetite stimulant. Yesterday she displayed wobbly hind legs and seemed slightly disoriented.
Appetite has increased, but, very lethargic. I have to administer Subcutaneous fluids twice daily.
I called the Vet, he had no idea what caused the problem with her hind legs.
Since reading your post, seems she may have had a mini stroke. I have discontinued the drug.
O/T
Have read that some of you have cats with CRF.
My sister's 15 year old cat was diagnosed 4 years ago with CRF. The Vet prescribed FORTEKOR. This drug is given to humans, also dogs too. It has transformed her cats life in that the drug delayed any more damage to her kidneys. She eats and drinks water well, her coat is magnificent and she will be 20 this year thanks to Fortekor.

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try some collodail silver or homapathic new era tablets i use both myself and on my cat helps more and cheaper than the vets and safer

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Hi Valrie, If your cat is taking Prednisone in the tablet form and it is hard to give to the cat ,Your Vetinarian can prescribe the liquid form which is Prednisolone.It cost just a little bit more but it comes in flavors and you get an applicator which is easy to get the liquid to the cat or Dog.
The Vet call in the order for us and we picked it up at CVS

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I agree it is SO much easier smashing or dissolving meds, mixing with 1-2cc of water, and injecting into mouth with syringe. My cat has IBD, and normally I can just smash his pregnisone into tuna juice and he laps it up. However he recently came down with liver and gall bladder problems, lack of appetite, and therefor the need to force the meds.

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Hi Bonzo, I happen to notice that most of the post regarding Mirtazapine had a doage of 1/4 tablet on 15mg.
My Vetinarian had prescribed 1/4 tablet of a 7.5mg when my cat stopped eating but he also was taking prednisolone at the same time as he had high white blood count.
I was wondering if 1/4 of the 15mg isn't too strong. You can read my original post if you like. Hope everything works out fine for your cat,try to do everything possble for him or her as its not a good feeling losing a a pet.

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Niko- thank you for the kind words. I do appreciate it. I will spoil her as much as she will allow. She has started jumping again but tends to fall when getting down off beds, but she gets up okay. I'm just thrilled to see her attempting to do things she loves. Cerenia- the med that is only approved for nausea in dogs, works pretty well. I hesitate to brag about her as things turn on a dime and usually after I brag on how well she is doing. Cerenia keeps her eating well and throwing up less frequently. She takes a half a tablet every 2.5 days. The vet requested I try to mix it up the last visit, see if I could give it to her less often as you are only allowed to give it for 4 days in a row and they should not take for 4 days after that. (thats for dogs anyway). Well, I tried 1/4 every 2 days and was not happy with the results and felt guilty for taking her out of her comfort. So we are back to 1/2 every 2.5. I am also giving her B12 shots and think that is helping her tremendously. She also takes 1/8 of a pepcid daily. Her concoction is working out for now. I really like the B12- she is very active ( for 21) after the shot and most of the week inbetween. Bents mom- see if the vet can set you up with B12. They are pretty easy to give and very reasonable, around 35 dollars for probably 2 years worth with the needles.

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This site seems to have updated info on mirtazapine, including signs of serotonin syndrome (an overdose):
felinecrf.org/persuading_cat_to_eat.htm#mirtazapine

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I forgot to mention in my earlier post that Cleo was taking amlodipine for high blood pressure, which decreased her appetite. Now she's on a course of clindamycin for higher titers of inactive toxoplasmosis, and this really kills her appetite. If she doesn't eat something right away, she'll throw up the clindamycin and the pill pocket.

I also did try giving her even smaller doses, about 1/8th of a tablet of mirtazapine. This dose works initially but over the next 3 days Cleo will eat less and less and become more lethargic. Tonight I'm trying a 1/4 tablet of mirtazapine, then when she's hungry will give her meds in pill pockets and then dinner. I hope this strategy works.

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